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28 WHISKY EDITION November 2011<br />
The water dispute<br />
In 1836 James and Andrew Gairdner set about<br />
building a rival distillery next <strong>to</strong> Laphroaig.<br />
They installed two experienced Clackmann<br />
distillers, James and Andrew Stein, <strong>to</strong> take<br />
charge. Donald Johns<strong>to</strong>n, owner of Laphroaig<br />
at the time, was deeply disturbed finding out<br />
that the new, Ardenistiel distillery, proposed<br />
<strong>to</strong> use the same watersource. Water that made<br />
a v<strong>it</strong>al contribution <strong>to</strong> Laphroaig’s unique<br />
character. Specially when Donald was about<br />
<strong>to</strong> expand his business leaving him w<strong>it</strong>h a <strong>to</strong>o<br />
small water supply. The dispute lasted almost 6<br />
years and ended abruptly when Andrew Stein<br />
fell ill w<strong>it</strong>h fever and died soon afterwards.<br />
His brother James s<strong>to</strong>pped distilling and<br />
moved <strong>to</strong> Port Ellen. In June the following year<br />
Donald himself died in a tragic accident at the<br />
Laphroaig distillery.<br />
Taste Laphroaig is considered one of the
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